WO2017009347A1 - Oligonucleotides and use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns oligonucleotides which comprise or consist of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 4, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous thereto, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4 in terms of the 5' - 3' reading direction, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence: cgaacccc*acctcc 15 SEQ ID NO 4, where * stands for an insert "c". The invention also concerns the use of the oligonucleotides for real-time PCR.

Description

 Oligonucleotides and their use

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides and relates to the use of oligonucleotides for medical diagnosis. In particular, the invention relates to oligonucleotides which can be used for a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the diagnosis of Chagas disease.

The Chagas disease is one of the parasitic infections and is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). The pathogen is transmitted mainly by various blood-sucking robber bugs. Congenital transmissions, transmission by blood transfusion and organ transplantation, transmission by contaminated food and transmission from laboratory accidents are also documented.

More than 150 domestic and wild animals serve as a reservoir, but also asymptomatically infected people contribute to the distribution. 100 million people are at risk of becoming infected, around 18 million are already infected. This places Chagas in 6th place in the category of "global burden dis- eases" and poses a major problem for South and Central America. The incidence of Chagas' disease is also increasing there due to increased migration of infected people to the USA and to Spain and Portugal.

Various species of predatory bug (family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatomae) serve as vectors. They absorb the pathogens during bloodsucking. The pathogens multiply in the insect and, when the predatory bug sucks blood from a new host, for example, a human, are excreted in the predator's droppings during the sucking act.

The bug bite is usually painless, but leaves a skin lesion and itching. If the bruised person combs the itching (often involuntarily) by rubbing, the pathogens are rubbed into the wound with the bug feces. Also, infection via the mucous membranes of the eyes (conjunctiva), the nose or the mouth is possible. In the tissue, the pathogens invade the host cell and multiply by splitting, forming so-called pseudocysts. Finally, the pseudocyst bursts and releases the parasites, which are then transported through the bloodstream to new host cells, initiating further cycles of proliferation. At the next blood meal, other predatory insects become infected, to which even low parasitemia suffice. Predator bugs are nocturnal animals. They can be up to 2 years old and multiply by oviposition. Their radius is several hundred meters. All stages (adults and larvae) and both sexes suck blood. Once infected, they remain infectious for life.

In humans, the Chagas disease runs in different stages. In the acute phase, a local inflammatory reaction (chagoma) with adjacent lymph node swelling may occur. If this is on the eye, there is the characteristic Romaha sign, a conjunctivitis with eyelid edema and preauricular lymph node swelling. However, the Romaha symbol is rare (<5%). The nonspecific disease symptoms are like a flu infection. The symptoms usually resolve spontaneously, often within 2 to 4 weeks. In a few cases meningoencephalitis or myocarditis with fatal outcome occurs at this stage.

This is followed by a latency phase. Here there is a positive serological test and at times also a low parasitemia; This phase is also called indeterminant or chronically indeterminant form. Normally, this phase is symptom-free, but studies have shown in some cases discrete disorders of the nervous system.

30 to 40% of those affected then go into a chronic stage, which is accompanied by serious changes in the heart (cardiomyopathy, sudden cardiac death, etc.) or on the gastrointestinal tract (megacolon, mega esophagus, etc.).

Although the Chagas disease could be diagnosed in the acute phase, since the parasite density is high (smear, concentration method, buffy coat Procedures, etc.), but this usually does not happen, whether the doctor is not first consulted or the symptoms are not seen in the context of Chagas. Therefore, it is usually diagnosed serologically later.

Two drugs are currently available as therapeutic agents: benznidazole (drugs: Ragonil ®, Radanil ^® ) and nifurtimox (drug: Lampit ^® ). Because of its slightly more favorable side effect profile, benzimidazole is the first choice. However, both agents are toxic and should be administered at the beginning of hospitalization. They destroy the parasites in the blood and are therefore particularly successful in the acute phase. The treatments are tedious (60-90 days for benznidazole, 90-120 days for nifurtimox). The advantages and disadvantages must be carefully weighed by the doctor in particular for chronic infections. They should not be used during pregnancy.

In order to break the cycle of infections, in addition to control and prevention measures (improvement of living conditions, fumigations, education, etc.) also good diagnostic kits and methods must be available to detect Chagas early, treat and passing through Reservoire (human and Animal). Blood and organ donors should be screened for Chagas, congenital infections and immunosuppressive reactions should be detected and treated. This requires new diagnostic kits and methods that have better sensitivity and specificity than previously known agents and procedures.

Further, it is important in all diagnostic approaches, T. cruzi of others, relatives and z.T. To distinguish apathogenic from trypanosomes (such as T.): A treatment following the "positive" diagnosis with the above-mentioned drugs is unacceptable due to toxicity if the positive diagnosis is incorrectly due to the detection of an apathogenic pathogen.

So far, a gold standard for diagnosing Chagas disease is missing. In the chronic stage mostly serological procedures are used. Because of the low levels of pathogens, as in chronic or chronic indeterminant form Chagas 'disease is common, the prior art has already described PCR for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease in addition to other diagnostic methods.

In a large multicenter study (AG Schijman et al., (201 1), International Study to Evaluate PCR Methods for Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Blood Samples from Chagas Disease Patients, PLoS Negl Trop Dis 5 (1): e931) 48 PCR's tested against each other. The authors came to the conclusion that 4 PCR's were declared as the best. One of these was the conventional gel PCR (LbQ IDNA). The other three were Sat-DNA-PCR's LbD2-Sat-DNA-PCR, LbD3-Sat-DNA-PCR and LbF1 - Sat-DNA-PCR. The latter (LbF1-Sat-DNA-PCR) is hereinafter referred to as "TCZ-PCR".

The Schijmann et al. Reported approach was taken by Y Qvarnström et al., (2012), Sensitive and Specific Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Clinical Specimens Using a Multi-Target Real-Time PCR Approach, PLoS Negl Trop Dis 6 (7) ,: e1689) : They compared an already known positive Chagas collective with the results of the mini-satellite TCZ-PCR, the leading kinetoplast PCR (kDNA-PCR) and an 18s-rRNA-PCR, which is considered to be particularly specific. The following sensitivities or specificities can be calculated from the data:

78% and 40% for kDNA PCR, respectively;

63% or 100% for TCZ-PCR;

6% and 100%, respectively, for 18s rRNA PCR.

The authors concluded that only those patients for whom positive test results were present in all three PCR's could provide a safe Chagas diagnosis. Any sample that only gave a positive result in kDNA-PCR and / or TCZ-PCR needs further clarification. However, this usually remains theorized locally: Additional diagnostic steps are usually no longer performed for cost reasons and / or due to the lack of suitable equipment. Thus, the diagnosis in practice often remains unclear, and therefore a therapy is not performed. Nonetheless, it is clear from the studies reported in the aforementioned references that real-time PCRs (RT-PCR) are given high priority.

Furthermore, the methods used to detect acute infections or congenital diseases, to monitor success after therapy, to reactivate under immunosuppression or to detect pathogen reservoirs and measures as well as to screen for organ transplants are still inadequate.

In the context of the invention, a sample collective was investigated which was characterized by a larger number of subjects (1009 vs. 1 19 - Qvarnström, loc. Cit.), The presence of all age groups, the presence of healthy individuals as well as various stages of Chagas disease ( acute, chronic, chronic-indeterminant, negative) differs from the collective of Qvarnström.

As part of our own experiments, it has been demonstrated in particular that kDNA PCR leads to numerous false positive results. These are predominantly based on cross reactions with Trypanosoma rangeli. In summary, it can be said that the currently most efficient PCR's (RT-PCR's) are helpful, but can only be used to support the diagnosis.

The reason could be - without wishing to be bound by this interpretation - to be that the current (RT) PCRs target structures of the cell that are either highly conserved (18s rRNA PCR) and thus are very specific, or the occur in many copies in different parasite genomes (eg Leishmania) (kinetoplast kDNA PCR) and thus falsely show a high sensitivity.

Another problem is the low levels of pathogens that are common in chronic or chronic-indeterminant form of Chagas' disease. Difficulties are also caused by the great genetic variability of the pathogens. These factors also explain the difficulties for the sensitivities and specificities. In the context of the present invention, samples from a high-end region in Colombia were examined by means of rapid tests or ELISA, immunofluorescence and real-time PCRs (RT-PCRs) kDNA-PCR, TCZ-PCR and 18s rRNA-PCR reported above: Schijman et al., Qvarnström et al. - currently belong to the most powerful PCR's.

For further evaluation, approximately 87 kDNA PCR amplification products were cloned and sequenced.

Based on the sequencing results, an assignment of the isolates to the pathogens was made via BLAST in the NCBI.

The clones for Trypanosoma cruzi were compared against each other and against the clones of Trypanosoma rangeli and against sequences stored in the database.

A region could be found in which the sequences of all Trypanosoma cruzi examined differed significantly from the sequences of Trypanosoma rangeli.

The alignment of the pathogen sequences is shown in FIG.

worin

The invention therefore relates to oligonucleotides (i) having the sequence SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences thereto, or (ii) oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides to the complementary nucleotide sequence Nucleotide sequence homologous nucleotide sequences; or (iii) oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the nucleotide nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 3, 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 3, or nucleotide sequences homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence:

wherein

 Preferred embodiments of this part of the invention are claimed in the dependent claims 2 to 7 and described below by way of example.

The invention furthermore relates to oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEC ID NO 10, SEQ ID NO 1 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to the following detailed description for use in the amplification of pathogen nucleotide sequences, preferably for exclusive amplification of Trypanosoma craz / ^' DNA sequences, in a mixture of DNA of different provenance, more preferably by PCR, most preferably by real-time PCR.

The invention further relates to the use of the oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEC ID NO 10, SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to the following detailed description for determining the presence or absence of DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi in the body an animal or human, preferably in the body of an insect, a fowl, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of body tissue or body fluid of a poultry, mammal or human, most preferably in a tissue or blood sample or a human Plasma sample or a serum sample of a human.

The invention further relates to the use of the oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEC ID NO 10 , SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to the following the detailed description of the diagnosis of Chagas' disease in the body of an animal or human, preferably in the body of an insect, a fowl, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of body tissue or body fluid of a poultry, mammal or human, most preferably in a tissue sample or a blood sample or a plasma sample or a serum sample of a human.

Finally, the invention also relates according to claim 1 1 (i) oligonucleotides of the sequence SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or (ii) oligonucleotides having to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 complementary nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or (iii) oligonucleotides having 5 '-> 3' reading direction to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: ccccwccwcc and 13 SEQ ID NO 1 in which

Preferred embodiments of this part of the invention in the form of oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 2 ccccacctcc ccg 13 SEQ ID NO 2 are claimed in the dependent claim 12 and described below by way of example.

In the context of the invention, therefore, a nucleotide sequence of a probe which is specific for the distinguishing region in the DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi and which was used for a ne use in real-time PCR is suitable, as well as combinable forward primer and reverse primer created.

Details of the approach taken are given in the experimental data and are explained there.

Within the scope of the present invention are claimed, and are described within the scope of preferred embodiments in the description, oligonucleotides, which are characterized by individually specified SEQ ID Nos 1 to 16 according to the description of the sequence listing.

In the context of the claims and the present description, "oligonucleotides" are understood as meaning linear sequences of up to 40 covalently linked phosphorus acid ester bridges from the 3'-C atom of one nucleotide to the 5'-C atom of the following nucleotides. These are usually abbreviated (also in the present claims and in the description) by the small letters a (for adenine), c for cytosine, g for guanine and t for thymine. Linear sequences are represented by the covalent juxtaposition of the individual nucleotides. The specified nucleotide sequence is always read in the direction 5 '-> 3'.

In the context of the present invention, the oligonucleotides according to the invention are always understood

(i) as oligonucleotides with the given sequence SEQ ID NO or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or

(ii) as oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the indicated SEQ ID NO or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or (Iii) as Oligonudeotide with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence nucleotide sequences.

For the cases of nucleotide sequences which are homologous to a given nucleotide sequence, again as usual, concrete letters are used for individual homolog nucleotides, which are specified in detail in the patent claims and the description below. In isolated cases, inserts are marked with specially defined characters ( ^* , ^** , §, #).

The invention will now be described with reference to the nucleotide sequences of preferred embodiments also shown in the Sequence Listing. However, the invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiments. These will primarily provide a better understanding of the invention and are intended to serve as an exemplification of the invention.

Oligonucleotides according to the invention in one embodiment of the invention have the nucleotide sequence given under SEQ ID NO 3:

This embodiment of the invention comprises oligonucleotides with the indicated sequence SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences; or oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the given SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of the SEQ ID NO 3 opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence nucleotide sequences.

In a preferred embodiment providing beneficial results but not limiting the invention, the invention relates to oligonucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 14 (similar to the sequence of SEQ ID NO 3) or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 14, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 14 with respect to the reading direction 5 '-> 3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

worin ^* für ein Insert "c' steht. In another preferred embodiment providing beneficial results, but not limiting the invention, the invention relates to oligonucleotides comprising, or even consisting of (the sequence having SEQ ID NO 3 and the sequence having the SEQ ID NO 14 similar) nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 4, or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4 complementary nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence Nudeotid sequences; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

where ^{* stands} for an insert "c '.

Even more preferred is an embodiment of the invention comprising oligonucleotides comprising, or even consisting of, the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO. (Similar to the sequences having SEQ ID NO 3 and SEQ ID NO 14 and SEQ ID NO 4 and SEQ ID NO 4) 10, or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 10 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 10 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

In alternative embodiments, the invention relates to oligonucleotides which, as will be seen below, include nucleotide sequences of the above SEQ ID Nos 3 or 4 or 10 or 14, but at their 5'-end and / or 3'-end, bound further nucleotide sequences or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the indicated nucleotide sequence, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite in sense direction 5 '-> 3' to the indicated nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence.

These oligonucleotides comprise the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 5: caaccccaat cgaacccc ^* w ccwyc and ^** d §nm # hwhy 38 SEQ ID NO 5, wherein

Preferred oligonucleotides of the abovementioned group include oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 15 or comprise oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the specified nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence indicated in FIG. 5 '->3', or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence and having nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 15: caaccccaat cgaacccc ^* a cctccccg ^** a §aa # attc 38 SEQ ID NO 15, wherein

Likewise preferred oligonucleotides of the abovementioned group include oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 11 or comprise oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the specified nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence ; or oligonucleotides with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' to the stated nucleotide Sequence of opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence and having nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 1: SEQ ID NO 1 1,

Likewise preferred oligonucleotides of the abovementioned group include oligonucleotides or comprise oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the specified nucleotide sequence, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence indicated in the 5 'to 3' reading direction or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences which are homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence and have nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 16:

The latter group of oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 16 is particularly preferred because of the recognition of Trypanosoma craz / ^' pathogen sequences.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, which may be practiced alone or with further features of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention, the invention relates to oligonucleotides of the type defined above SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 or SEQ ID NO 14 or SEQ ID NO 15 or SEQ ID NO 16 indicating one or more labels have one or both of their 5 'ends and / or 3' ends. Such labels, which may serve specific purposes in the later use of the oligonucleotides, are well known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, may be selected according to circumstances from labels known in the art. In further preferred embodiments, the one or more labels are markers and are even more preferably fluorescent labels or quenchers. By way of example, known fluorescence markers or quenchers such as FAM or BHQ1 can be used at this point.

Oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NOS 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 15 and / or 16 as described above can be used, for example (without limitation), as probes for the PCR and according to the invention are particularly preferably used as probes for the Real Time PCR, without limiting the use of the oligonucleotides of the invention to this use.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, which can be realized alone or with further features of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention, the above-described oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 or SEQ ID NO 14 or SEQ ID NO 15 or SEQ ID NO 16 according to the above detailed exemplary description in combination with one or more further oligonucleotide (s) from the group forward primer and reverse primer.

More preferably, for example, oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 or SEQ ID NO 14 or SEQ ID NO 15 or SEQ ID NO 16 can be combined with a Primer (1), for example in the form of oligonucleotides of the oligonucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 or of oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences thereof, or of oligonucleotides with complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 a nucleotide or oligonucleotide nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or of oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

and / or with a primer (2), for example in the form of an oligonucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or of oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or of oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence 5 '-> 3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

In a preferred embodiment of oligonucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 7, which represents a good recognition basis, which can be realized alone or with other features of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention, or of oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or of oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or of oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence, the nucleotide sequence is one of SEQ ID NO 12:

Preferably, the primer (1) is a forward primer and / or the primer (2) is a reverse primer. In another embodiment of the invention, the primer (2) is a forward primer and / or the primer (1) is a reverse primer.

As primers (1) and / or primers (2) it is also possible to use oligonucleotides which contain further nucleotide sequences bound at their 5 'end and / or at their 3' end, but in each case an oligonucleotide sequence according to the above SEQ ID Nos 6 and / or 7 contain (or at least a homolog thereof):

The invention therefore also relates to oligonucleotides of the above-defined SEQ ID Nos 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12, which comprise as primer (1) nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 8 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide Sequences, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 8 or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 8 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

and / or comprising: as primers (2) nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 9 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 or oligonucleotides to which complementary nucleotide sequence homologous nucleotide sequences; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: vbsbnrdwwk catgcawctc mcccgtmcat tatyt ^* bn 38 SEQ ID NO 9 wherein

 In a preferred embodiment of oligonucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 9, which represents a good recognition basis, which can be realized alone or with other features of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention, or of oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences or oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or of oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence 5 '-> 3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 or of oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence, the nucleotide sequence is one of SEQ ID NO 13:

Also preferred in this case are the primer (1) a forward primer and / or the primer (2) is a reverse primer, or the primer (2) is a forward primer and / or the primer (1) is a reverse primers. Furthermore, according to a further aspect, the invention relates to oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and SEQ ID NO 16, as described in detail above, for use in the amplification of pathogens -Nucleotid sequences. In particular, the oligonucleotides according to the above-mentioned SEQ ID Nos. 3 to 16 have proven useful in the exclusive amplification of Trypanosoma craz / ^' DNA sequences, in a mixture of DNA of different provenance, particularly preferably by PCR, according to the invention most preferably by real Time PCR.

The results of carrying out a real-time PCR with the combinations according to the invention of primers (forward primers and reverse primers) with an oligonucleotide probe according to the invention (if appropriate with markers) according to the above description - without wishing to be bound by these interpretations - indicates that the identified region of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA is a significant differentiator to Trypanosoma rangeli DNA. Cross reactions to Trypanosoma rangeli are not observed.

Strains of Trypanosoma cruzi tested in the present invention are Trypanosoma cruzi CL Brenner (Hg 39), Trypanosoma cruzi type Y (Vero) and Trypanosoma cruzi Brazil (HG 39). These were detected in the new real-time PCR's using the oligonucleotides of the invention. On the other hand, there were no cross-reactions with Malaria tertiana and Malaria tropica and Leishmania brasiliensis.

The invention therefore also relates to the use of the oligonucleotides of the defined SEQ ID Nos. 3 to 16 for determining the presence or absence of DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi in the body of an animal or human, preferably in the body of an insect, a poultry, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of a body tissue or a body fluid of a poultry, a mammal or a human, most preferably in a tissue sample or a blood sample or a plasma sample or a serum sample from a human.

The invention further relates to the use of the oligonucleotides of the defined SEQ ID Nos. 3 to 16 for the diagnosis of Chagas disease in the body of an animal or human, preferably in the body of an insect, a poultry, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of a Body tissue or a body fluid of a poultry, mammal or human, most preferably in a tissue sample or a blood sample or a plasma sample or serum sample of a human.

As described above, the invention also relates to oligonucleotides

(i) with the sequence SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or

(ii) oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or

(iii) oligonucleotides having 5 '-> 3' reading direction to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence: ccccwccwcc and 13 SEQ ID NO 1, wherein

welche sich zur Unterscheidung der Erreger-Sequenz von Trypanosoma cruzi von Sequenzen anderer Trypanosoma eignen, beispielsweise Trypanosoma rangeli.

which are suitable for distinguishing the pathogen sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi from sequences of other Trypanosoma, for example Trypanosoma rangeli.

mit der eine besonders zuverlässige Unterscheidung der Erreger-Sequenz von Trypanosoma cruzi von Trypanosoma rangeli gelingt, im Unterschied zu den einleitend beschriebenen PCR's aus dem Stand der Technik. In a preferred embodiment which provides a good recognition base, the invention relates to oligonucleotides comprising or consisting of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 2, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous thereto, or oligonucleotides to the nucleotide Sequence of SEQ ID NO 2 complementary nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 2 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

with a particularly reliable distinction of the pathogen sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi of Trypanosoma rangeli succeed, in contrast to the PCR described in the introduction from the prior art.

Experimental Part: Part 1:

In the PCR run reproduced in the following table combination different DNA samples of different subjects were tested. All samples were analyzed by serology (rapid test [Chagas Ab Rapid by Standard Diagnostics] or ELISA [Elisa in house of the Laboratorio de Salud], immunofluorescence [immunflurescence in house, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine]), kDNA-PCR, TCZ-PCR , 18s rRNA PCR.

The samples designated in the table with "Cruzi", "Rangeli" and "Homo s" were additionally sequenced. "Neg. Sample "1-4 are subject samples that were negative in all serological and PCR assays.

"Tulahuen" refers to two positive controls with two different concentrations.

The following preferred primers were used for the PCR;

Primer 1 (Forward): gcactatatt acaccaaccc c (21 nucleotides)

(SEQ ID NO 6)

Primer 2 (reverse): catgcatctc ccccgta (17 nucleotides)

 (SEQ ID NO 12)

Probe: cgaaccccac ctcc (14 nucleotides)

(SEQ ID NO 10)

The following optimally developed reaction mixture was used for the PCR:

10 μΙ 2 x Master Mix (HotStarTaq Mastermix, Qiagen company)

 1 μM primer forward 8 pmol (SEQ ID NO 6)

 1 μΙ primer reverse 8 pmol (SEQ ID NO 12)

 1 μΙ probe 2 pmol (SEQ ID NO 10)

2 μΙ MgCl ₂ 25 mmol

 3 μΙ aqua dest.

The described 18 .mu.M mix were each mixed with 2 .mu.l of the extracted DNA of the sample to be examined.

As a positive control, DNA of Trypanosoma tulahuen was used in the same concentration. The cycler program of the device (Rotorgene, Qiagen company) was programmed as follows:

95 ° C for 15 minutes; subsequently

 45 cycles for 15 sec 95 ° C and 60 sec 60 ° C; subsequently

30 sec. 40 ° C.

Results are shown in the following tables

Table 1

Experiment information

Tabelle 2

Table 2

Quantitation information

Results:

Table 3

The determined values are compared in FIG. 2 in a graph.

As the above data, together with the graph of Figure 2, show, in all cases where pathogen sequences of Trypanosoma cruzi were already confirmed by sequencing, they were displayed in the expected CT range and were thus clearly detected. In contrast, all (related) pathogen sequences of Trypanosoma rangeli remained negative in the test.

Experimental Part: Part 2:

Sensitivity, specificity

The laboratory diagnosis of Chagas disease is a challenge in that there is no gold standard. In addition, the diagnosis depends on the stage of the disease. Thus, chronic forms can already be identified with the help of serological methods (rapid test, Elisa, immunofluorescence, etc.), but acute, indeterminant or congenital forms as well as relapses or the control of an on-going therapy are not. In contrast to the indirect serological detection methods, the direct detection of the pathogen is recommended here, for example. by RT-PCR.

Many approaches have been tried and evaluated in this regard (see publications Schijman et al, Qvarnström et al and others). Exemplary of many PCRs, Qvarnström et al presented sensitivities and specificities for three of the leading PCRs:

(modified according to Qvarnström et al, 2012)

Noteworthy in this context is the investigated study population (1 19), which consisted mainly of adults with known Chagas disease, which had been reactivated under immunosuppression (after organ transplantation, AIDS), or was acquired congenitally or by laboratory accidents. Many of this group had high parasitemia. Nevertheless, the authors come to the conclusion that although diagnostic assays are available with these PCRs, no reliable diagnosis can be made unless the sample was positive in all three PCRs. In a study in Colombia we became aware of the problem of Chagas' disease. We examined a total of 1009 samples from a high-end area on Chagas.

From this collective, consisting of all age groups, healthy, acute, chronic and chronically indeterminant Chagase sufferers, about 100 PCR-positive samples were sequenced. Since all TCZ and 18S rRNA PCR positive samples were also kDNA PCR positive, the amplicon of the kDNA PCR was cloned and sequenced here. In 87 cases cloning and sequencing were successful. There were 65 sequentially verified records for Trypanosoma cruzi, 14 for Trypanosoma rangeli and 8 for Homo sapiens.

The PCR amplificates of six samples of the newly developed PCR were also sequenced. All showed positive evidence for T. cruzi. One of these positively sequenced samples was positive only in the new PCR and was not detected by any of the other three PCRs.

Based on these results, we calculated the sensitivities and specificities for the sequenced collective for all PCRs under the same conditions and listed in the following table:

The good specificities of 18S rRNA and TCZ PCR could also be confirmed here, as previously described by Qvarnström et al. However, the sensitivities were lower (many false negative results). Reason for this could be the different collectives. When reactivating eg the parasitemia are mostly high, in a cross-sectional population with predominantly chronic / chronic inde- pending courses, however, the number of parasites is rather low.

The kDNA-PCR shows good sensitivity, but is very low in specificity. One reason for this are many false positive results, which are mostly due to a cross reaction with T. rangeli. T. rangeli is considered a close relative to T. cruzi, but in contrast to T. cruzi is considered to be apathogenic. The newly developed PCR is the only one that has both good sensitivities and specificities. In this group, no sample was classified as false positive and all negative ones were recognized as true negative.

Inter- and intra-assay data

For the interassay, the Tulahuen Positive Control was used at a 1: 100 dilution and tested on three different days on 10 samples per run (22.-24.6.15). The coefficient of variation was 1, 86%.

For the intraassay, 20 samples of the positive control Tulahuen, each diluted 1: 100 and 1: 10,000, were tested in one run. The coefficient of variation was 1, 7% for the dilution of 1: 100 and 2.4% for the 1: 10,000 dilution.

Primer-dimer run

 In a primer-dimer run (also called watercourse), only primers, probe, magnesium chloride, buffer and water were used to detect possible interactions of the individual components of the kit. These did not occur in any of the 30 samples tested.

Defined plasmid for quantification

Using a defined plasmid, a standard curve for determining the quantity of parasitemia was created. For this purpose, an already known positive sample was amplified, cloned and sequenced, at the same time the plasmid concentration measured. After renewed confirmation of the sequence as T. cruzi and a measurement result of 10 ¹¹ plasmids / μΙ in the sample, the standard curve could be determined over a series of dilutions in the triplicate. The measurement of the dilution series and the preparation of the standard curve was carried out both for kDNA PCR (modified by Qvarnström et al) and for the new PCR.

Subsequently, two known positive samples were tested in logarithmic dilution steps in both of the above-mentioned PCRs.

Than detection limit (201 1) 5 x 10 was ^"3 parasites / ml described. In our studies, turned out for the kDNA PCR (modified from Qvarnström et al) a detection limit of 3 x ^10" in the publication of Schijman et al ² parasites / ml out.

The newly developed PCR has a detection limit of 3 x 10 ^"4 pathogens / ml.

Thus, the newly developed PCR can even detect low parasitemia, with the possibility of diagnostics in acute, congenital, chronic-indeterminant infections and therapy success checks, reactivation under immunosuppression, screening before organ transplants or blood donations and control measures (eg. Vector / reservoir control, etc.).

Claims

claims 1 . oligonucleotides (i) with the sequence SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or (ii) oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 3 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or (iii) Oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 3 with respect to the reading direction 5 '-> 3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

2. oligonucleotides according to claim 1, comprising, or consisting of, the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 14 according to claim 1, or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 14 complementary nucleotide Sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 14 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: cgaaccccwc cwyc 14 SEQ ID NO 14, wherein

comprising, or consisting of, the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 4 according to claim 1, or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4 or oligonucleotides to which complementary nucleotide sequence homologous nucleotide sequences; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 4 in the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

An oligonucleotide comprising, or consisting of, the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 10 of claim 1, or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having the nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 10 or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 10 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

3. Oligonucleotides according to claim 1 or 2, comprising nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 5 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide Sequences or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 5 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 5 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3', or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: caaccccaat cgaacccc ^* w ccwycvnd ^** d §nm #hwhy 38 SEQ ID NO 5 wherein

Oligonucleotides comprising nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 1 1 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence ; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 1 1 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: caaccccaat cgaaccccwc cwycvnddnm hwhy 34 SEQ ID NO 1 1 . wherein

Oligonucleotides comprising oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 15 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with the nucleotide sequence complementary to the given nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence indicated in FIG. 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence and having nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 15: caaccccaat cgaacccc ^* a cctccccg ^** a §aa # attc 38 SEQ ID NO 15, wherein

Oligonucleotides comprising oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 16 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with the nucleotide sequence complementary to the specified nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or Oligonudeotide with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' to the specified nucleotide sequence of opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides to the opposite nucleotide sequence homologous nucleotide sequences having nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 16: caaccccaat cgaaccccac ctccccgaaa attc 34 SEQ ID NO 16. 4. Oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, comprising one or more mark (s) on one or both of their 5 '. Ends and / or 3 'ends, preferably wherein the one or more labels are markers, more preferably wherein the one or more labels are / are fluorescent labels or quenchers. 5. Oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 or SEQ ID NO 14 or SEQ ID NO 15 or SEQ ID NO 16 according to one or more of the claims 1 to 4 in combination with one or more other oligonucleotide (s) from the group forward primer and reverse primer. 6. oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 10 or SEQ ID NO 1 1 or SEQ ID NO 14 or SEQ ID NO 15 or SEQ ID NO 16 according to claim 5, wherein a Primer (1) comprises: an oligonucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 or oligonucleotides having homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 or oligonucleotides having complementary nucleotide sequence homologous nucleotide sequences; or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6 opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 6, or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

and / or wherein a primer (2) comprises: an oligonucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or Oligonucleotides having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 7 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

preferably comprises: oligonucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 12 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 12 or oligonucleotides with nucleotide homologues homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence sequences; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 12 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence:

 more preferably wherein the primer (1) is a forward primer and / or wherein the primer (2) is a reverse primer; or wherein the primer (2) is a forward primer and / or wherein the primer (1) is a reverse primer. 7. Oligonucleotide according to claim 1, comprising as primer (1) nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 8 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 8 Sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or Oligonudeotide with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' too the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 8 opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: taaccaactg gcactatatt acaccaaccc caat 34 SEQ ID NO 8 and / or comprising as primer (2) nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO 9 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences opposite to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 9 with respect to the reading direction 5 '->3' or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the counter nucleotide sequence: vbsbnrdwwk catgcawctc mcccgtmcat tatyt ^* bn 38 SEQ ID NO 9 wherein

preferably comprising: oligonucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 13 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 13 or oligonucleotides with nucleotide homology to the complementary nucleotide sequence sequences; or oligonucleotides with 5 'to 3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 13 of opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence:

more preferably wherein the primer (1) is a forward primer and / or wherein the primer (2) is a reverse primer; or wherein the primer (2) is a forward primer and / or wherein the primer (1) is a reverse primer. 8. Oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO 10, SEQ ID NO 1 , SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7 for use in the amplification of pathogen nucleotide sequences, preferably exclusive amplification of trypanosome cruzi DNA sequences, in a mixture of DNA of different provenance, more preferably by PCR, most preferably by real-time PCR. 9. Use of the oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO 10, SEQ ID NO 1 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8 for determining the presence or absence of DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi in The body of an animal or human, preferably in the body of an insect, a fowl, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of body tissue or body fluid of a poultry, mammal or human, most preferably in a tissue or blood sample or a plasma sample or a serum sample from a human. 10. Use of the oligonucleotides of the sequences SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO 10, SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 15 and / or SEQ ID NO 16 according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8 for the diagnosis of Chagas disease in the body of an animal or human , preferably in the body of an insect, a fowl, a mammal or a human, more preferably in a sample of body tissue or body fluid of a poultry, mammal or human, most preferably in a tissue sample or a blood sample or a plasma sample or a serum sample of a human. 1 1. oligonucleotides (i) with the sequence SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or (ii) oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or (iii) oligonucleotides having 5 '-> 3' reading direction to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 opposite nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence: ccccwccwcc and 13 SEQ ID NO 1, wherein

12. oligonucleotides according to claim 1 1, comprising, or consisting of, the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO 2 according to claim 1 1, or oligonucleotides with homologous nucleotide sequences, or oligonucleotides to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 2 complementary nucleotide sequence or oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences homologous to the complementary nucleotide sequence; or oligonucleotides with nucleotide sequences homologous to the nucleotide sequence opposite to the nucleotide sequence in sequence 5 '->3' to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 2 or oligonucleotides which are homologous to the opposite nucleotide sequence: